Bradman fell in the leg-trap several times that tour. Here Compton is catching him off Whitcombe at Lord’s
by Abhishek Mukherjee
"You have to play under a Protestant to know what it's like," Bill O'Reilly, a staunch catholic, once admitted. He was referring to Don Bradman.
They never liked each other. O'Reilly and Jack Fingleton reportedly burst into peals of hysterical laughter when Bradman was bowled for a duck in his last Test innings.
Bradman, on the other hand, cited Fingleton and O'Reilly's absence among the reasons behind the 1948 brigade's success. He had finally found a loyal team.
But all that never came in the way of their mutual admiration when it came to on-field performances. O'Reilly mentioned that Greg Chappell and Allan Border were "child's play" compared to Bradman. And while there was criticism, there were no hard words: "You don’t piss on statues."
Bradman, on the other hand, included O'Reilly in his pre-2000 World XI.
Jim Laker and Alec Bedser had helped England recover from 74/8 to 165 in the first Test, at Trent Bridge. By stumps Australia were 293/4, with Bradman on 130.
O'Reilly, who was covering the tour, complimented Bedser on his bowling, before pointing out that the leg-side field placement could have been improved. Sensing something, Bedser acquired paper and a pencil.
A plan was laid out.
Len Hutton had been fielding at leg-slip on Day 2. On the third morning, Bedser had him moved to fine-leg, and got two short-legs and a mid-on. He had made his intentions clear.
Bradman soon reached his thousand runs that summer. Then he drove Bedser through the cover for four. He reached 138.
Then he attempted a leg-glance. According to Fingleton, Hutton did not have to move an inch. A jubilant, grinning Bedser waved towards the press-box.
Did the Australians approve of this? Arthur Mailey, seated somewhere near O'Reilly inside the press-box, would have. Years ago, when asked why he had been helping out Ian Peebles with the googly, Mailey mentioned that slow bowling, being an art, is international.
Australia nevertheless secured a 344-run lead before bowling out England for 441. They needed 98. And Bradman had to show up at 48/1, once again to face Bedser.
In an encore, Hutton moved to fine-leg, Bedser bowled on leg, leg-glanced, and was caught by Hutton. It was his first Test duck on English soil, but would not be the most famous.
But the story does not end here.
Bedser and Hutton went through the drill again, in the next Test, at Lord's. This time Hutton dropped the catch.
Bradman, then on 13, eventually scored 47 before he got out – caught Hutton at fine-leg off Bedser.
Then he settled down and scored 89 in the second innings.
The first dismissal took place on 12 June 1948.